Hope and How we Image the Future

Since hope comes from our images of the future, understanding how we image that future is important if we want to restore people to a realistic future.

What direction are you looking? Backwards or forwards?

Are you living in the past, the present, or the future?

When you imagine the future are your images appealing or discouraging?

In the spiritual life we are taught to live fully in the present moment. But we can only live fully in the present moment when the past is resolved and the future does not evoke anxiety.

When we are full of pain, grief or resentment we are preoccupied with our past and unable to look forward. When we are anxious about the future we are not able to imagine having the resources we need to meet our needs and achieve our preferred future.

To live fully in this present moment we need hope.

Time Doesn't Heal Anything

Contrary to popular opinion time doesn't heal anything. It is what you do during the time that brings healing or continues the injury.

Nor should it take a life-time to resolve everyday experiences or grief and resentment. When Jesus said "forgive" he didn't say take a life-time to do it.

By helping people to resolve:

Painful Memories

Grief and Resentment

We can restore them to hope by helping people turn from being trapped in the past to pursuing their preferred future.

A Realistic and Just Hope

Because hope is based on what we imagine the future to be we need to ensure that our hope is both realistic and just. Simply hoping problems will go away or bad things will stop happening is unhelpful.

This book is filled with things you can actually do to heal from grief and resentment. Whether you use this book on your own, as a member of a group, or to help others, you will find here a resource rich with hands-on and effective strategies for healing. Jim Finley, author, Merton's Palace of Nowhere.